Page 168 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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XIV.—The British Settlement on Kishm island, 1821-23.
1
96. After the capture of Ras-ul-Khyma in 1820, it was resolved* to remove
the British detachment to the island of Kishm. This was done with the express
written permission of Saiyid Sultan. Various places were occupied on the island
for the purpose, namely Kishm town, Deristan, Salak and finally Bassidorc.
The Persian Government protested very strongly. Mis Majesty's Chargd
d'Affaires at Tehran pointed out that after the punishment of the Joasmis, it was
necessary to keep some British troops in the Persian Gulf, and the Imam of
Maskat was willing to allow of a British Settlement on the islands of Kishm or
Henjam. To this it was answered by the Persian Government that Maskat was
a dependency of Persia and as the Imam had not-the power of permitting the
residence of British troops at Maskat, he could much less grant such a permis­
sion at Kishm as Henjam which were the dependencies of Bandar Abbas. As
pointed out by Sir Monstuart Rlphinstonef " the King of Persia’s claim to Kishm
does not. appear to be strengthened by his present arguments, but on the
contrary to be weakened by His Majesty’s Minister making in part depend on
his sovereignty over Maskat, a pretension which seems to be entirely untenable.”
97. As the Persian remonstrances against our settlement on the Kishm
island became very persistent and threatened to bring about a rupture of friendly
relations, it was decided to remove the detachment from Bassidore. This
was done in 1822. But as no other station in the Gulf could be found more
convenient for a “ naval depot and rendezvous for our cruisers," Bassidare
station was again occupied in 1823. No protests were apparently raised against
this second occupation, which has continued since undisturbed. (As regards the
subsequent history of our station at Bassidore see sections XX and XXXV.)
XV.—Resumption In 1854 of the lease of Bandar Abbas, etc., to Maskat and regrant
in 1856.
98. About the close of the year 1854 the Persian Governor of Shiraz
despatched a force to Bandar Abbas, which expelled Saiyid Sultan s Gover­
nor of the place Seif bin Nebhan and his officials and garrisons from the fortified
posts on the coast held by them, occupied them by force and committed great
outrages upon the inhabitants. Saiyid Sultan greatly enraged at this aggressive
act of the Persians despatched an expedition under the command of Saiyid
Thoweni, who succeeded in recapturing the posts.
99. The Persians, however, on receiving reinforcements marched again to
the coast. The Beni Yas Arabs were appealed to by Saiyid Sultan and pre­
pared an expedition to aid the Saiyid forces. This was however prevented by
the British Commodore from proceeding to Bandar Abbas in pursuance of
certain general instructions that had been issued by Colonel Kemball.
This proceeding was approved by the Resident on the ground that the whole
Gulf would be involved in a maritime war if one of the tribes had been allowed
to aid Saiyid Sultan, as the Joasini Arabs being hostile to him would have, in
j Truci.i Chiefs Prjc'u,Chapter likelihood proceeded to assist the
Persians.; Saiyid Sultans forces thus left
} See AachiMon’i Treaties, Volume x. alone were obliged to give way and he
had to agree to a peace§ on very disadvantageous terms. As Badger puts it
the annual rental was raised from 6,000 to 16,000 tomans; the two islands of
Hormuz and Kishm which had been dependencies of Oman were declared to
be Persian territory, Bandar Abbas was to be deprived of it protecting ditch, and
the Saiyid’s Governor there was virtually reduced to the condition of a Persian
vassal, removable at the caprice of the Governor of Shiraz, and bound to
supply any expedition which either the Governors of Fars or Kerman might
wish to despatch towards Cutch, Mekran or Baluchistan, with provisions, guides
and escorts ; in case of war the land and maritime forces of Oman were to
defend the coast of Persia from foreign invasion and the new lease of the farm
was limited to twenty years, renewable or not after that term at the pleasure of
the Shah’s Government.
too. A memorandum purporting to contain the substance of this arrange­
ment was at the time obtained by Captain
Political A., July 1863, No*. 16^-65.
Felix Jones and sent on to the Bombay
• For the hi.torv of the British occupation of several places in the Kishm Island s«o the Persian Gu!/ Pritit,
I801-S3, Sections XXVIII (paragraphs 335-260), XXXII (paragraphs 276 286;, XXXV (paragraphs 392-96).
f Ibid, paragraph 256.